Status in Florida: Native (cultivar of a native species)
Native Habitat: Wetlands, swamps, stream banks, coastal areas
Native State, Country: Southeastern United States
Growing Zones: 7 - 10
Size at Maturity: 15-20 feet tall, 10-15 feet wide (smaller than the species)
Phenology: Evergreen
Life Cycle: Perennial
Growth Rate: Moderate
Growth Habit: Dense, upright, pyramidal to oval
Bloom Season: Spring
Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Texture: Adaptable, tolerates a wide range of soils, including wet and poorly drained.
Soil pH: Acidic to slightly alkaline
Moisture Requirements: Moist to wet, but can tolerate some drought once established.
Tolerance to Salt Spray: High
Keystone Plant: No, but valuable for wildlife
Recommended Landscape Uses: Screens, hedges, specimen tree, buffer strips, rain gardens, wildlife gardens
Maintenance Tips: Little pruning needed. Can be shaped as a hedge.
Considerations: Female plants need a male pollinator to produce berries. Attracts a wide variety of birds.
Hurricane Wind Resistant: Moderate
Erosion Control: Yes, especially in wetland areas
Nitrogen Fixing: No
Edible: No (berries can cause nausea and vomiting)
Pet Safe: No (berries can be harmful to pets)
Deer and Rabbit Resistance: High
Historical Medicinal Uses: Some traditional medicinal uses by Native Americans, but use with caution.
Florida Native Companion Plant: Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress), Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush)
Wildlife Benefit: Provides food (berries) and shelter for birds.
Caterpillar Host Plant: Yes, Henry's Elfin butterfly
Propagation: Cuttings
Length of time Seed is Viable: Not typically propagated by seed (cultivars don't come true from seed)
Best month to Start Seeds: N/A
Seed treatments: N/A